Protector for railroad defect-cards



(No Model.)

G. FENSKI. PROTECTOR FOR RAILROAD DEFECT cums. No. 573,324.

Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

1,111,111, WI'IIIIIII 1 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

GUSTAV FENSKY, OF OIIESTERTON, INDIANA.

PROTECTOR FOR RAILROAD DEFECT-CARDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,324, dated December15, 1896. Application filed July 13, 1896. Serial No. 598,977. (Nomodel.)

To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV FENSKY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chesterton, in the county of Porter and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protectors forRailroad Defeet-Cards; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to protectors for railroad defect-cards.

The object of my invention is to provide means for protecting theinterchange and Master Gar-Builders cards now used by all railroadcompanies wherever cars are interchanged between two or more roads.VVhenever a defect is discovered by an inspector who examines the car,he makes out a card indicating what the defect is and signs his namethereto. These cards are generally provided with two stubs, one of whichis sent to the master car-builder of the road issuing said card and theother is retained by the inspector, the main portion of the card beingtacked generally to the sill of the car. Frequently a year or twoelapses from the time the defect-card is issued until the car reachesthe shop for repairs, and during this period, under the old system, thecard containing the statement of the defect and signature of theinspector bleaches out or becomes illegible from the dust and dirtthereon or for other reasons. As the card issued constitutes an orderfor payment upon the railroad company, and as the company issuing saidcard will pay for no defects except those stated upon the defect-cards,it is of the greatest importance that these cards be so protected thatit may be readily known what the defects are and by whom the charges forrepairs are to be paid.

My invention is designed to overcome the difficulties heretofore metwith; and it consists of a casing which is adapted to be attached bybolts or screws to a door or other convenient part of a car, havingmeans for holding the defect-cards therein, a cover for said casing, andmeans for locking said cover in its closed position.

The invention also consistsin other details of construction andcombinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully describedand claimed.

'In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 representsa perspective view of a car-door, showing my protector applied thereto.Fig. 2 is a similar view of the protector, shown in its open position,with defect-cards therein. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through thesame. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line a: as of Fig. 2.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The casing 1 of my improved protector is preferably made of galvanizediron or other sheet metal, is pan-shaped, and is adapted to be screwed,bolted, or otherwise secured at any convenient point to a car. Hinged toone edge of the casing l is a cover 2, having a protecting-ledge 3 uponits under surface adjacent to the outer edges thereof and having anopening 4, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Passing transversely through the sides of the casing 1 at a point nearone end thereof is a rod or shaft 5, upon which is pivoted a plate 6 ofslightly smaller dimensions than the inside of the casing 1 and adaptedto fit therein. Secured to the inside of the bottom of the casing 1 andthe cover 2 and upon both sides of theplate 6 'are clamping devices 7 7,preferably made of strips of metal, riveted or otherwise secured to theparts to which they are attached and having their upper ends projectingslightly beyond the surface of said parts. These are preferably arrangedin pairs and secured to the bottom of the casing 1, t0 the inside of thecover 2, and to both sides of the plate 6. Extending transversely ofsaid parts and located above said clamps are crimped strips ofconnecting-wire 8 8, which are attached at their outer ends to lugs 9. Aspring-catch or lockin g device 10 is secured to said casing 1 near oneedge thereof, the upper end of said locking-catch being adapted to bepassed through the openilfg 4 in the cover 2 for the purpose of holdingsaid cover in its closed position.

The defect-cards are held in place on the inside of the casing byinserting them beneath the wires 8 and the clamps 7. They are thussecurely held in place and are protected from ICO the effects of theweather, dust, and dirt, and are prevented from bleaching.

My protector is so constructed that it is adapted to hold an almostindefinite number of cards.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described protector for railway defect cards, consistingof a casing adapted to be secured to a railway-car at any suitablepoint, a cover hinged to said casing, clamps secured to the inside ofsaid cover and upon the top surface of the bottom of said casing, andconnectingwires strung longitudinally of said parts, beneath whichandsaid clamps the defect-cards are adapted to be illserted.

2. The herein-described protector for railway defect cards, consistingof a casing adapted to be secured to a railway-car at any suitablepoint, a cover hinged to said casing, a plate also hinged to said casingand fitting within the same, clamps-secured to the inner surface of thebottom of said casing, to the inner surface of said cover and toboth surfaces of said plate, and coniiecting- Wires strung longitudinally ofsaid parts and located directly above said clamps, beneath which andsaid clamps said defect-cards are adapted to be inserted.

3. The herein-described protector for railway defect cards, consistingof a casing adapted to be secured to a railway-car at any suitablepoint, a cover hinged to said casing having an opening at one pointtherein and a ledge upon the under surface of its outer edges, clampsupon the inner surface of the bottom of said casing and upon the innersurface of said cover, wires strung longitudinally of said bottom andsaid cover, beneath which and said clamps the defect-cards are adaptedto be inserted, and a spring-catch adapted to fit within the opening insaid cover for lockingth'e latter in its closed position, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV I INSKY.

Witnesses: V

CHAUNCEY L. Bunenss, ELMER W. HAWES.

